Himeji Castle, Himeji

A World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle represents the largest structure of its kind in Japan. Constructed in the 14th century, the grandiose castle underwent several major reconstructions since then, surviving two scheduled demolitions, the 1945 bombings, and an earthquake. Admire the imposing structure from the outside, or roam the well-kept interior and labyrinthine garden paths. Choose to start, finish, or center your holiday on a trip to Himeji Castle by using our Himeji travel itinerary planner.

SK01234

August 17, 2017

The size of this castle and surrounding land is very large and impressive as are the crowds in August. We arrived soon after it opened which helped. They have the crowd move forward in one direction w...
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tonkin ブ

I went to had seen from the Shinkansen barely look real. Anyway big?. We recommend panoramic camera. Castle rises up to the 6th floor of no? what is hard. However, the view from the top floor is the best. You can experience the vastness of the Himeji Castle.

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Bigdaddy K

August 16, 2017

Anyone who's aware of the UNESCO listing or the feudal history of Japan would likely know about this very famous castle. Anyone else, well they'd probably appreciate the obvious aesthetics of the cast...
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Oliver Weibel

June 18, 2017

One of the most stunning castle in Japan. It is a must to visit. Here you can see how the castles are build and gives you an good view to the Shogun age. I was two times there and still loved it. It's so rich.
At the entrance there are guides to help you understand the castle. It is worth going with them on a tour.

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Shahrzad Ariayi

May 8, 2017

Amazing place! Highly recommended!!
Himeji is a nice and relatively quiet town and the castle is beautiful so it's definitely worth the travel. The castle is located about 20 minutes walk away from the Himeji station but its very straight forward and you can see the castle all the way from the station so I recommend walking there instead of catching the bus.
They sell a combined ticket for entry to the castle and entry to the garden next to it which is definitely worth seeing as well so I highly recommend the combined ticket.

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David Tanamachi

April 15, 2017

Super awesome and imposing castle! You get to go all the way to the top, which is very fun because you realize how hard it must have been to attack this place!
Special tip: the Himeji Castle consistently tops the rankings, but I definitely wouldn't miss out on the Osaka castle. Even though it's smaller than the one in Himeji, the colors of the Osaka Castle and the amazing garden around it make it a priceless visit. I traveled to both the Himeji and Osaka castles on the same day and it was totally worth it. Great plan if you have the JR Pass!

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Bornwell Siakanomba

May 16, 2017

We got to Himeji around 4:30 pm and checked into our hotel but Himeji castle was on our itinerary and we were told the castle top floor access closes at 5pm. We got on a cab and dashed there. 4:45 pm, we walked into the premises and realised the ticketing booth was past the park. We ran all the way to the ticketing both from the gate entrance and the staff were polite enough to let us in after watching 9 people running up the park. The trek upstairs is quite a work out (watch your head) and the castle is really a great piece of engineering. The view at the top is magnificent. Worth the stairs. The staff were kind enough to close only after we had been to the top and taken pictures. I'll never forget Himeji. You must go if you can.

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David Anderson

June 9, 2017

Amazing place. Extensive access allowed outside and in, the interiors have great displays in Japanese and English including augmented reality and information available with QR Reader (make sure your data plan is roaming friendly if visiting from overseas). Loads of guides / assistants stationed throughout whom are more than willing to help out, it's a definite highlight of a trip to Japan.

Where to stay in Himeji

The UNESCO-protected castle brings plenty of visitors to Himeji, so the quiet city possesses enough accommodations to be able to suit their eclectic tastes and diverse budgets. Located in clusters among the main commercial squares close to the train station, you'll find the main hotels, including budget and luxury options. Look to the side streets of this central district for a fair selection of hostels and guesthouses. The high speed train service connecting Himeji to Osaka and Kyoto means that many visitors choose to visit during a day trip from one of these large cities.